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(No Mdl.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. MAJERT n G. MGHTER. PROGESS @E MAKING m8808818 Wy. f 'l (No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. MAJERT an G. momma. PROCESS OP MAKING HYDROGEN.

No. 380,726. Patented Apr. 10, '1888.

r UNITED... Sfr-Aras Erica 4Bfr-reist* WILHELM MAJER'ufoF GRUNAU, NEAR RERLINIAND GUsrAV RICHTER, or EALKENRERG, NEAR GRUNAU, PRUssIA, GERMANY.

PROCESS- oF MAKING'HYDROGEN.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380.726, dated AApri`110, 1888.

Application tiled April l2, 1887.

To aZZ whom t may' concern.-

Beit known that we, WILHELM MAJERT, doctor of philosophy, -residing' at Grunau, near Berlin, Prussia, and GusTAvRIoHTER, premier lieutenant, residing atFallrenberg, near Grunau, Prussia, Germany, both subjects of the Emperor of Germany, haveinvented an improved process for producing hydrogen gas in the dry way for military purposes, and apparatus therefor, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention has for its object to facilitate the production of hydrogen in the field,chieliy for military purposes, and is based upon the 15 property which zinc dust possesses when 'heated in 'the''presence'of certain watercoutaining bodies of decomposing the latter, so

as to form oxide oi'zinc and hydrogen gas. To this end cartridges are constructed cntaining zinc-dust and substances holding the component parts of water in a chemical combination, so thatwhen the cartridges are .subjected to heat in asuitable apparatus the oxygen of the water will combine with the zinc a5 and form oxide of zinc, and the hydrogen will be' liberated and received and retained in'a suitable receptacle.

In filling the cartridgecases hydrated lime may be used ,for mixing with the zinc-dust. This, however, when made by simply slaking quicklime, contains water in mechanical combination, which enters into reaction with the zinc-dust too soon and before the mixture is' placed in the proper heating apparatus,- and must therefore' Ibe got rid of. By subjecting the hydrated lime before its admixture with the zinc-dust to a heat of about 300 centigrade the water in mechanical 'union there-v with will be driven oft,and the water in chemical combination will alone remain. The hydrated lime can then be mixed with thezncdust and heated up to lOOCcentigrade for a considerabie time without the hydrogen being given oft, a verycousiderable heat (nearly red heat) being required to eiect this liberation.

Instead of using hydrated linie prepared as above described with the zinc-,dust for the production of hydrogen, the ysincdust may be combined with dried hydrate of magnesia or 5o doubly-hydrated chloride of calcium, or with the double combination of chloride of calcium Serial No. 234,502. (No modeh) with chloride of magnesium, chloride of sodium, (or chloride of potassium,) as well as with water containing oxychloride of calcium, or the hydrate of soda or potassium, or the double oxides of sodium and calcium, or of potassium and calcium (natriumcalcium-oxyd or kaliumcalcium-oxyd.) I

The cartridgecases for containing the mixture of the zinc-dust with the water-yielding 6o material are of sheet-iron, and about from ten to thirty centimeters in diameter by from forty to one hundred centimeters in length,and after filling are securely soldered and so rendered easily transportable. 65

The apparatus for theproduction of hydrogen from these cartridges or cases is represented in Figures J: and/2 of the accompanying drawings, which are longitudinal and crosssections, respectively, of the apparatus used. 7o Fig. 3 is a section of a cartridge.

ln the retort A are arranged a number of tubes, RR,Which are fitted into the end plates or walls, Band C. The tubes R are open on both ends, orthey are closed at one end, and their open ends project in'tj'the space D, which is closed by a cap or co'ver, F. The latter is'` provided with a tubular projection, E. In the plate o r wall B the tubes R are closely iitted, so that the space D is quite shut oi from the 8oy other part ofthe retort. The furnace ioe the retort is situated at H, and by means-of the intermediate wallsor partitious,L and M, and also by means of the channels K and J, (furnished with throttle-valves,) and, linally,iby means of the chimneys S' and S', it is rendered possible to cause the gases of combustion to circulate throughout the-retort so as to heat the tubes R on all sides. I

In using the apparatus abo tubes R, after the cover F has been opened, are filled with the cartridges containing th'e gas-yielding mixture, and the cover Fis then closed.,-"*Heat being now/'applied by means of the furnace-lire, the soldering of the cartridges melts, and the hydrogen can therefore escape, and it will now collect in the space D and can be led thence throughI the tubular projection E to the place Where it is required to-be used.

In order that, on the charging of the tubes loo R with the cartridges, theliberated hydrogen may better escape into the space D, the carve described the 9o stance containing water in chemical combination, substantially as and for the purpose 'described.

In testimony whereof we have igne om' names to this specification in two subscribing Witnesses.

' vJVLILI-ELMl MAJERT.

G-USTAV RICHTER.

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